>I was looking at laptops at CompUSA and Frys recently, trying out different configurations, and every salesman assumed I wanted something with email and internet browsing only.

I had a freind who worked at a CompUSA, but quit because of the stupidity. My boss used to walk around those places, and every time he found someone who really had a head on, he'd hand them a card, and see if they were interested in a Part-time job, or more, mostly on hard ware.

He doesn't bother any more.

>I mentioned "SQL-Server" and "WindowsNT" and was informed that "Microsoft Office will give you everything you need".

Computer teachers (at the HS level) will tell you this too. I over heard a student ask her something about butllets. "Hmm, I dunno. Lets ask the Paper clip thingy."

>Then there was the salesWOMAN who asked if the computer was for my grandchildren....

Did you throw a right jab or the left hook at this point? ;-)